Hormones & Cortisol Test

The Comprehensive Male/Female Profile II by ZRT Laboratory is designed to provide a comprehensive assessment of your hormonal health. This profile, which requires saliva and blood spot samples, evaluates key hormones such as estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA-S, and cortisol, providing insights into reproductive health, adrenal function, overall hormonal balance, and women's menstrual cycle. Additionally, it assesses thyroid function by measuring levels of TSH, free T3, and free T4, and anti-TPO, an anti-thyroid antibody, offering a comprehensive overview of thyroid health.

This test also involves collecting saliva samples four times throughout a single day—typically upon waking, before lunch, before dinner, and before bedtime. The laboratories then present the results in a 24-hour graph. This resulting curve, also known as a four-point cortisol curve or circadian cortisol pattern, enables healthcare providers to evaluate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis) or adrenal dysfunction.

When cortisol levels deviate from the normal pattern, it can lead to imbalances in blood sugar, fatigue, insomnia, food cravings, and weight gain. Similarly, imbalances in low DHEA levels often manifest as loss of lean muscle, decreased strength, reduced stamina, and low exercise tolerance.

- Menstruating Women (with regular cycle): collect saliva samples on day 19, 20, or 21 of your menstrual cycle (Day 1 counting as 1st day of bleeding).

- Men, Children, & Non-Menstruating Women: collect anytime.

- Blood card: you must fill up all entire circles entirely with blood

- Saliva is collected at the following times:
- Upon waking (largest tube)
- Before lunch (small tube)
- Before dinner (small tube)
- Before bed (small tube)

If you use topical or oral hormones:

- Apply/take any night dosage at least 12 hours prior to your morning collection.

- Avoid applying hormones with your bare hands for at least 2 days prior to collection.

- Avoid using hormones on your face, lips, and neck.

- Change your sheets, pillowcases, and hand towels the night before collection.

- Avoid touching any surfaces which may be contaminated with hormones prior to collection; this includes faucets, hand towels, cabinet doors, etc..

Salivary Steroids
+ Morning Cortisol
+ Noon Cortisol
+ Evening Cortisol
+ Night Cortisol

Blood Spot Steroids, Other Analytes, and Thyroids
+ Estradiol
+ Testosterone
+ Pg/E2 Ratio
+ DHEA-S
+ Progesterone
+ SHBG
+ Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies
+ Free Triiodothyronine
+ TSH
+ Free Thyroxine
+ Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone

Experience for Women:
- Baseline levels before hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
- Amenorrhea
- Premenstrual syndrome
- Dysfunctional uterine bleeding
- Estrogen dominance symptoms
- Hypogonadism
- Sexual dysfunction
- Osteoporosis
- Fibrocystic breast disease
- Infertility screening
- Polycystic ovary syndrome screening
- Anovulation
- Menopausal symptoms
- Screening for adrenal fatigue

Experience for Men:
- Monitor for estrogen dominance
- Hypogonadism
- Andropause
- Fatigue
- Low libido
- Erectile dysfunction
- Infertility
- Osteoporosis screening
- Adrenal dysfunction